Senior Member

System Restore is a tool that does basic system file restore. It is definitely not a gold standard restoration tool. Imaging apps is what is considered the Gold Standard. Imaging takes a snapshot of the entire system, including installed apps, customization, everything.

For most of us, Imaging is a once a month thing. I create a new Image after each patch Tuesday so my Image is the most up to date I can keep it. I also keep 5 or 6 of my most recent Images.

Data on the other hand needs to be backed up more often. That's what File History is for. For those who have lots of data that changes frequently, File History can be running almost continuously. In my case, my data is not nearly so large. In my case I also run File History several times a month. This allows my data backup to be up to date.

Senior Member

System Restore does a reasonable job with System Files. Unfortunately, lets say you install something, or worse yet get a virus or malware that prevents System Restore from working or does other nefarious activities. System Restore will not help.

Now if you had a whole System Image from prior to the problem, you simply insert your Rescue Boot Disk you created for your Imaging app, connect whatever media you have used to store the Image (I use an Ext HD) and restore the Image. In this situation the System Restore points are on the same partition as the OS. If this partition is badly corrupted you may not have access to restore points.

This is one reason why Images cannot be stored on the same partition as the OS. They can be saved in a different partition or drive, but if in a different partition and the whole drive dies, your Image is also lost. That's why storing Images off PC is best.

Both System Restore and Imaging have there place. System Restore quickly fixes many system files if something unexpected happens, but when real disaster strikes Imaging is the savior.

I may have already stated this, but I create a new Image after each patch Tuesday, then run File History. Both are saved to my Ext USB HD. I keep 5 or 6 Image files for 4 different PCs on the same Ext HD. I just have separate folders for each PC.

Senior Member

I personally use Acronis True Image 2013. It works very well for Win 8. It is not free. I started with Acronis True Image home 2010 and 2011. Both worked well with Win 7, but were not yet updated for Win 8 and I suspect will not be since 2013 was released for Win 8. @013 also works well for previous Windows versions. By the way if you do a little searching you might find it for less that $49.99. There are many sales offered by various resellers.

Others have used Macrium Reflect or EaseUS ToDo for their needs. The latter 2 have both free and paid versions. Check out their respective web sites to see the differences. (The EaseUS ToDo product has a free version on CNet)

Well-Known Member

Now if you had a whole System Image from prior to the problem, you simply insert your Rescue Boot Disk you created for your Imaging app, connect whatever media you have used to store the Image (I use an Ext HD) and restore the Image. In this situation the System Restore points are on the same partition as the OS. If this partition is badly corrupted you may not have access to restore points.

This is one reason why Images cannot be stored on the same partition as the OS. They can be saved in a different partition or drive, but if in a different partition and the whole drive dies, your Image is also lost. That's why storing Images off PC is best.

Both System Restore and Imaging have there place. System Restore quickly fixes many system files if something unexpected happens, but when real disaster strikes Imaging is the savior.

Well-Known Member

The Acronis recovery disk does not work with secure boot, nor does the F11 option that you can create within the Acronics program. Yet one more obstacle to maneuver in a desired trouble free restore! Damn.....

I believe you have to disable secure boot and enable legacy drive. I got tired of messing with it. I figure if I ever have to restore I can figure it out then. I printed instructions from the thread I linked to above.

Really wanted a simple way without having to remember what buttons to push, and what to turn off and on and in what sequence. Evidently these issues aren't specific to Acronis. It's any recovery disc as they are made in Linux and evidently that's the issue.

Senior Member

You are most likely correct. I have read elsewhere that Linux is not working with the new UEFI systems with GPT. I suspect that is what is happening here. I do not believe there is a way to NOT use the Linux Rescue Boot option in Acronis.